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Buskin River closed to sockeye salmon fishing

The Buskin River weir is set up during the summer to count mainly pinks, cohos and sockeyes. (Photo by Kavitha George/KMXT)
The Buskin River weir is set up during the summer to count mainly pinks, cohos and sockeyes. (Photo by Kavitha George/KMXT)

The Buskin River will close for sockeye salmon fishing.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today (Friday) that only 114 sockeye have passed through the weir at Buskin Lake. The ten-year average count for mid-June is 2,800 salmon, so the fishery will likely not meet its total escapement goal of between 5,000 and 8,000 sockeye.

The Buskin River will be closed to sockeye fishing from Tuesday, June 15 to December 31.

If weir counts improve, the Buskin River could reopen.

Sockeye counts at the Buskin Lake weir as of June 11, 2021, indicate numbers far from escapement goal of 5,000-8,000 sockeye. (ADF&G)
Sockeye counts at the Buskin Lake weir as of June 11, 2021, indicate numbers far from escapement goal of 5,000-8,000 sockeye. (ADF&G)